Locking device for drawers and trays.



W. H. P. FEELY. LOCKING DEVICE FOR DRAWPRS AND TRAYS. APPLICATION ExLEnJULY 15, 1908. RENEWED MAY 5, 1909.

924,225. Patented June 8, 1909.

w I v I I A TTORNE V IINIIG STAES rear canton.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR DRAWERS AND TRAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed July 15, 1908, Serial No. 443,575. Renewed May 5,1909. Serial No. 494,137.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. P. FEELY, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York,State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLocking Devices for Drawers and Trays, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in locking devices for drawersand trays; and it especially relates to improvements in looking devicesfor extension trays of wardrobe trunks.

It is a matter of great convenience to the user, that wardrobe trunksshould be equipped with movable drawers or trays, and that there shouldbe a simple andeasily operated device for simultaneously looking all thetrays. I have therefore provided my wardrobe trunks with extension traysby which term I mean trays arranged in one part or compartment of thetrunk so that the front of the trays extends out beyond the front of thecompartment of the trunk in which the trays are situated. When the trunkis closed, the projecting part of the trays enters the other compartmentof the trunk. In this manner relatively great depth and capacity can begiven to the several trays, which is again a matter of great convenienceto the user. But while my present invention is particularly adapted touse with the extension trays of a wardrobe trunk, it is of course, notrestricted to such use, but isapplicable to all cases where a number ofdrawers or trays are contained in a single chamber, frame or holder, asin a clothes press, file case, bureau and the like.

In order that the locking device shall be always ready at hand, it isindispensable that it be attached permanently to the holder containingthe trays; since otherwise it is liable to be mislaid, and not at handwhen needed. But in order that it may fulfil the functions required ofit, said locking device must also be readily movable from a locking toan unlocking position, and there must be some cooperating means forretaining said device in its closing position so that it cannot beaccidentally displaced. This is especially important when the inventionis applied to the trays of trunks, in which case, unless the lockingdevice were provided with such retaining means, it would be displaced bythe jolting of the trunk during transportation. I have thereforeprovided in this invention a device for simultaneously locking aplurality of trays, in combination with means for retaining said lockingdevice in its closing position as long as desired.

Referring to the drawings which accom pany the specification, Figure lis a front elevation of a bank of extension trays in their casing orholder, and adapted for use in a wardrobe trunk. The locking device isshown in its closed position. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same parts andin the same position. Fig. 8 is a broken top view and section on a largescale to clearly illustrate the details of the locking device.

The banks of trays AA having handles a of any number as desired, slidein and out in the usual manner in their casing B; bb being thepartitions which support and separate the said trays. \Vhen the saidtrays are intended for wardrobe trunks, they are adapted to be placed ina compartment of such a trunk with their front sides extending outbeyond the front of said compartment.

hen, the trunk is closed the projecting parts of the trays A and casingB enter the other compartment of the trunk. When the trunk is open, theposition of the trays is such, that when the locking device is unlocked,all or each of the trays can be readily slid in and out of the casing Band out of the trunk.

Referring now particularly to the locking device to which the presentinvention especially relates, the same is constructed in the followingmanner: A rod D preferably of metal, and of a length sufficient to lockevery tray A, is guided by eyes at its extremities on guides E, F, whichare permanently fastened to said casing B. Said guides E and F arefastened at their inner ends about at the middle of the front of saidcasing B, and the outer. ends of said guides E and F are bent backwardlyaround the corner of said casing and fastened to the sides thereof, sothat when said rod D is slid to the unlocking position it will be at theside of said casing B and out of the way of all the trays, which canthen be freely opened. Said rod I) may be made of such size and shape asto have great stiffness, so that it can not be sprung out at the middle.But I prefer to make it of more convenient size and shape and to providea guard G at about the center of the said rod, which guard G isgenerally similar to the said guides E, F, and is fastened at its endsto the front of one of the partitions and to the side of casing B asshown. Said guard G extends over said rod D and prevents the springingout of the middle thereof. My preferred means for retaining said rod Din the locking position consists of a spring H secured at one end to apartition Z), and provided with a head h so positioned as to clamp saidrod D against the inner bent end of guard Gr, as clearly shown in Fig.3. The clear space between the front edge of the partition 6, and saidrod D is sufficient to allow said rod D to be slid over the head h ofsaid spring H when said spring is pressed inward by the user. It will beevident, that when said rod D is slid. laterally around the corner ofthe casing B, any or all of the trays may be drawn out. To lock thetrays all of them are pushed fully back into the casing B; said rod D isthen slid laterally on its guides E, F to its locking position snappingover the end of said spring H, and then being held thereby in itsclosing position until released by the user.

Now having described my improvements, I claim as my invention.

1. A locking device for trays, consisting of a laterally movable rod, aguide therefor permanently attached to the tray holder and extendinglaterally beyond the extreme ends of the trays, and means for retainingsaid rod in its locking position, substantially as described.

2. A locking device for trays, consisting of a laterally movable rod,guides engaging the extremities of said rod and being permanentlyattached to the tray-holder and extending laterally clear of the extremeend of the trays, and means for retaining said rod in its closingposition, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a bank of trays, tray-holder, of a laterallymovable rod permanently connected with the tray holder at one end, andmovable to a position clear of the extreme ends of the trays, and aretaining spring for holding said rod in its locking position midway ofthe ends of said trays, substantially as described.

4:. The combination in a locking device, of a bank of trays, a holdertherefore guides extending from the open side of the holder around to aclosed side thereof, a locking rod laterally movable on said guides, anda retaining device for holding said rod in its locking position,substantially as described.

5. The combination with extension trays of wardrobe trunks, of a lockingdevice for the trays consisting of a late ally movable rod adapted tosimultaneously back all the trays and permanently connected with thetray-roller, and means for retaining said rod in its closing position,substantially as described.

Signed at New York city this 14th day of July, 1908.

lVILLIAM H. l. FEELY.

\Vitnesses H. V. BROWN, l/VAL'rnR N. Harms.

